who is leaving ncis
Right now, there isn’t an officially confirmed new exit from NCIS being widely reported for the very latest episodes, but there are a few key “who is leaving NCIS” angles people are talking about based on recent and past cast changes.
Who is leaving NCIS?
Quick Scoop
Over the years, NCIS has built a reputation as a revolving door of beloved characters, so every hint of a departure turns into a trending question: who is leaving NCIS now?
1. Recent storyline hint: Nick Torres & Bishop
One of the most talked‑about “future exit” teases involves Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) and Ellie Bishop (Emily Wickersham).
In a recent midseason episode, Bishop reappears, shares an emotional goodbye with Torres, and invites him to join her off‑book black‑ops work, which plays like a possible setup for Torres’ eventual exit even though he chooses to stay with the team for now.
The episode frames Torres at a crossroads: stay with his NCIS family or follow Bishop into the shadows — a classic “soft launch” for a potential future departure rather than an immediate exit.
So at this moment, Torres has not actually left , but fans are speculating heavily that the writers have opened the door for him to do so later.
2. Who has already left NCIS (recent and long‑term)?
When people search “who is leaving NCIS,” they’re often really bumping into the long list of big exits the show has already had over the years.
Some of the most notable:
- Mark Harmon (Leroy Jethro Gibbs)
- Left as a series regular in season 19 , with Gibbs’ final main‑cast appearance in episode 4.
* Harmon has said it was about timing and giving Gibbs a fitting conclusion, though the door is left open for possible guest spots.
- Emily Wickersham (Ellie Bishop)
- Confirmed her exit in 2021 , after around eight years on the series.
* In‑story, Bishop left on a deep‑cover assignment; in real life she later focused on family, including welcoming children, and other projects.
- Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto)
- Announced her departure in 2018 after 15 seasons as the forensic specialist.
* Abby was given a “happy but bittersweet” exit, leaving to start a charity after a colleague’s death.
- Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo)
- Left earlier to headline his own series, with Tony written out to raise his daughter and search for Ziva.
- Other notable departures highlighted in retrospectives include Sasha Alexander (Caitlin Todd) , Cote de Pablo (Ziva David) , and Maria Bello (Jack Sloane) , all of whom exited in earlier seasons for a mix of creative and contract reasons.
Because these exits are still heavily discussed, articles and videos about “who is leaving NCIS” often focus on this historical roll call of departures , not just brand‑new news.
3. Who is confirmed to be staying (latest season context)
For the most current season (season 23 era), coverage actually emphasizes who is returning , which indirectly tells you who isn’t leaving right now.
Confirmed as returning for season 23:
- Sean Murray – Timothy McGee
- Katrina Law – Jessica Knight
- Rocky Carroll – Director Vance
- Gary Cole – Alden Parker
These confirmations suggest no surprise exits among those core faces at the start of the new season, though NCIS is famous for mid‑season twists.
4. Quick table: “Who is leaving NCIS?” context
Here’s a fast snapshot of how current talk breaks down:
| Character / Actor | Status | What fans are seeing |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Torres / Wilmer Valderrama | Still on team (exit teased) | Offered to join Bishop’s black‑ops work; chooses to stay “for now,” which feels like setup for a possible future exit. | [1]
| Ellie Bishop / Emily Wickersham | Already left (2021) | Officially exited after 8 years; character on deep cover, recent return was temporary. | [3][1]
| Leroy Jethro Gibbs / Mark Harmon | Already left as regular | Final main appearance in season 19 episode 4; possible but unconfirmed guest returns. | [7]
| Timothy McGee / Sean Murray | Confirmed returning | Publicly confirmed for season 23, so not leaving at that point. | [5]
| Jessica Knight / Katrina Law | Confirmed returning | Actress stated she’d be back for season 23. | [5]
| Director Vance / Rocky Carroll | Confirmed returning | Appears in promotional materials for season 23. | [5]
| Abby, Tony, Ziva, Sloane, etc. | Past departures | Frequently referenced in “who left NCIS and why” pieces and videos. | [9][8][6][10]
5. Why “who is leaving NCIS” keeps trending
- The show is in deep‑run seasons (23+), so any casting rumor feels huge.
- Recent episodes using “goodbye” style scenes (like Torres/Bishop) naturally spark talk that a major exit is coming next.
- Retrospective lists and YouTube breakdowns about why actors left keep circulating, so the topic never fully leaves the spotlight.
TL;DR
Right now, the only clearly “leaving” movement on screen is Bishop’s continued life off the team , plus a strong narrative hint that Torres could eventually follow her , but as of the latest coverage he is still with NCIS.
Most “who is leaving NCIS” buzz today is a mix of that Torres tease and ongoing discussion of earlier big departures like Gibbs, Bishop, Abby, Tony, and Ziva.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.